The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-12
Current Events.

q. Supreme Court has shown that there are,
besides the anarchists friends and follow
ers, a large number Of people, we'll mean
Ing In all things, go0a citizens, and lovers
of their country, who are opposed to the
execution of the sentence OF the courts pro
nounced upon the anarchists, TOR various
reasons,-because they are opposed to cap.
ital punishment or, because the courts OF
appeal having vinuicated the trial court In
It's findings, society can now afford 10 be
merciful; or because they believe that as
the "bloOd of martyrs Is the seed OF the
church." so may anarchy grow by and
through "persecution." That was Spies
and Parsons thought and expression. The
petitious for the Communication of the
sentence of the seven condemned men,
therefore, we're signed by the thousands
Stands were erected Ia all parts of the city
for the convenience OF signers,-in front OF
churches. public halls, on thronged streets,
and they we're on sunday well patronized,
II being estimated that on that day alone
between $500 and 1000 names were secur.
ed at these various stands throughout the
city. Such evidences of the disappearance
of the indignation which burst forth on the
commission of the crime, AS we'll as thu
undisguised hostility of a certain class TO
the verdict we're enough to cause some
anxiety; but 10 this WAS added a greater
shock, which came Sunday and Monday,
when II became known throughout the city
and country that four bombs Of the gas pipe
pattern, had been found on Sunday morn.
Ing In Lingg's cell by the jailor's guard
At S:l5 Sunday morning, L'ngg was re-
moved from his cell, which was afterwards
searched the jailor having a suspicion that
such a find might be possible. The bombs
were found In a wooden box Ski in, under
a pile of papers. They We're made of
three.quarter inch pipe, about seven inches
long, with prepared fuses and caps TO each,
and subsequent investigation showed them
TO be the Irregular article" All the other
cells were searched, but nothing further
was found. The jail guards were there
upon Increased and visits Of friends cur,
tailed or allowed only under close Inspect
ion OF officers for the rest of the week.
At II 30 on Sunday evening, one Of the
men ON the death watch was attracted TO
Engel's cell by groans, and discovered that
worthy lying on his back and breathing
heavily. The physician of the insane ward
was called, when II was found that Engel
had attempted suicide by taking laudanum.
Antidotes were administered and his life
thrust back upon him.
The companions of Lingg rs we'll az their
friends protest entire Ignorance Of his pos.
session Of the bombs, and at first attem pied
to create the impression that they were not
found at all, but that the report WAS q plan
of the police TO re.create feeling against
them. On Monday, too, Engel confessed
that he not only took laudanum, but that
he had on Friday night swallowed rs NOR.
phine pills, which he had had since the
day he entered the prison, but the pills had
lost their power. He said he would rather
die than 60 to prison tor life, and had only
one regret-that he had not made more
speeches, his only crime In his own eyes.
1t was reported also that the police on
Monday, had found eleven bombs In an
anarchists house on the West Side
Another effort was made on Tuesday 70
induce Parsons, Fischer and Engel to sign
petitions TO the Governor for clemency, but
without avail, In spite of the reasoning of
lawyers and the tears of their wives and
children.
On Wednesday the scene changed from
Chicago to Springfield whittier the anar-
chists' attorneys, families and friends went
TO plead for mercy. The Governor gave
them audience In the executive chamber
Geo. Schilling acted as master of ceremon.
les. Capt. Black made the opening address,
followed by Gen. NJ M. Trumbull, Speaker
the representatives Of various labor organi.
cations made addresses, ana Mr.. A. Oliver,
of the Amnesty Association, presented the
general petition, to which, he said, Al 900
names were attached, all, II was claimed,
secured since the U. s. Supreme Court de-
cision. After the speech making the fam
lilies of the men had short private inter
view; and after that still, they all, includ.
ing Engei's daughter and Mrs Fischer,
signed petitions for clemency.
Among the papers laid before the Gov
ernor was the flavor Affidavit" made by
one Otis g. Favor, called as a juror but
excused, In which he says that Ryce, the
bailitf, summoning jurors, had told him
(Favor) he was managing the case" and
that he would summon only "such men as
the prosecution wants." and further, that
after the trial he told Judge Grinnell the
facts, who asked and urged him to persist
In keeping silence.
On Wednesday more dynamite was
found in Chicago by etter.carrier, In the
west division. II, too, was of the gas pipe
pattern, and was found on the steps of a
residence in Clarkson court When open
ed by the police II was found TO contain
dynamite, verdigris, iron. filings, with oil,
screws, nuts, bolts, &c. Another suspi
cious package was found on the residence
steps of DR.. o. p. Hathaway on West Mon.
roe 81. On being opened 1t was found to
contain a bottle, and the contents saturated
with gun cotton.
On Wednesday, application was made
to Judge Prendergast TO declare Lingg in
sane; but the Court decided he had not
jurisdication under the circumstances of
this case. On the same day, Spies, Schwab
and Fielden, signed petition for a writ of
habeas corpus based on the ground that
they had not been present at the hearing
at Ottawa, which was laid before Judge
Tuley OF the criminal court, on Thursday,
who refused the writ Lingg, however,
had determined TO cheat the gallows of Its
prey; and on Thursday morning succeeded
In committing suicide. The exact means
employed is uncertaiH, though II is prob
able dynamite cartridge was used, which
being placed between his teeth was fired
by match or candle. This was at 8 a.
m. The lower portion of his face was
blown away, and of the mouth, jaws,